October

It has been unseasonably hot this month. We are not looking forward to summer at all.
We have swum in the sea pool as the moon and tides have been favourable for the middle of the day cool downs. It is so refreshing, still chilly, but because of this we have the pool to ourselves.

It is raining today and a slightly cooler breeze so we are going to eat the last of the soups in the freezer. I always make large pots of soup so we have some for freezing.
I also made 18 chicken and leek pies yesterday for the freezer - a great stand by.

Comfort food

The spring flowers are blooming.

So beautiful

Good from all sides

In the 1960's bamboo was a big fashion thing for a while. Near us in Slack's Creek was a large bamboo factory. Our Mother loved the vases etc. We had so many pieces but now only a few remain.

I love using these pieces

One of our neighbours has lovely red bottle brush trees on the fence line. We like them so much we have decided to plant some at Tina Ave. They are excellent for attracting birds.

Great in a vase also

 Last Saturday there was a sailing regatta of some sort that went through the passage. I just managed to get in a photo in time to capture the 'junk'.

There were lots of different boats

I made an Italian rice pudding last week. I have had the recipe for years and just came upon it again. The sultanas are soaked in Grappa - genius idea. The pudding looked very wet when cooked but firmed up - a little too much. Will have to make sure it has plenty of milk/cream next time.

With strawberries and blueberries

We are going to miss the view over the passage when we move to Tina Ave. The view there is great across to Stradbroke Island but there is no where near as much activity on the water.
We will be able to view the sunrise and have great views of the full moon over the water - but sunsets will be limited.

Making the most of it while we can

The curlews are back. This family have adopted us. We often find them in our garden waiting for tidbits.

So sweet

I have had many cat ornaments over the years. Surprisingly very few that I have bought myself. Some find their way to a charity shop after a reasonable space of time. Graham is the best cat ornament giver as he totally understands cat faces. This little one is a treat. He guarded books for years in the sunroom at Carramar Street and now resides on Lamb Island adding his presence to the pot plants on the verandah.

Love him

We have inhereted a cat

Son Mark inhereted a cat from a neighbour who was leaving the island. Now Mark has a new partner with an allergy to cats - so we have adopted him. It wasn't a huge upheaval for him as he spent lots of time with us when ever he felt like it.
As soon as his food and dishes were installed in our kitchen he realised that this was now home. I am sure he worked out very quickly that we are a much more interesting household. We are home most of the time - so are his beck and call for food, chats and brushing his fur.

He loves my fur rug

Sits here to be admired

I have started to go through my recipes looking for spring/summer food inspiration.

Ready for the oven

This tomato tart was fabulous and so easy to make. It has gone to the top of the list.

We ate outside for the first time. In summer the mosquitoes drive us inside - but we are really looking at ways to address that.
The candles and lights made the area look very glamorous.

Love candle light

View into the kitchen

Lamb risoni

This good old standby never dissapoints.

Even lovely at night

We created this garden in the corner of the veranda to disguise a very ugly water fountain.

Red onion and blue cheese tart

This was a new recipe for me. I used the baby spring onions from Lamb Island Farm to decorate the top.

Good old regular

Tractor Point

I now know why this area is called Tractor Point - well by the locals anyhow. I had been into the park before but only at high tide was unaware that this is the reason.

She looks lovely by candle light

Never tire of this view

Welcome to a Spring catch up

The horrid Queensland flu thingie hit hard this winter. I was down for the count for 8 weeks. It took all my strength to just function.
Thankfully this past week I have bounced back. Also the weather during the day is just divine.

We have been here on Lamb Island for 1 year now. We have settled into a good life here. We get the bulk of the groceries delivered, and the alcohol. I am learning to tweek my favourite recipes if I don't have the EXACT ingredients.

Pretty Produce (The flower farm) are now growing vegetables and salad thingies. This is a treat and Chris who is in charge of the veggies lets us know when things are ready for sale.

So fresh all just picked

Today's treats included baby carrots straight from the ground, he clipped the rocket while we waited. I also bought some baby onions and something called sea blight. This in a salad will be amazing.
Son Mark has planted an excellent garden with a fabulous ocean view.

Happy tomatoes

2 different lettuce types

We ate some beans last night

Lucky chickens

I did manage some cooking that I photographed before the flu had me in it's clutches.

Zucchini and oregano tart

Kimchi pancake

Favourite bean salad ingredients

New paint work and new plants

Jonelle has been working daily on 34 Tina Avenue. It is all coming together outside with maintenance  and painting. The apartment has been properly finished and is waiting for the next tenant.

Parsley and lemons from our garden

The herbs at 11 June Parade are doing well. Thank goodness as we use so many fresh herbs in our cooking.
The view from the verandah never disappoints.

Prawners out in force

There is always something happening out in the water. We will really miss this view when we move to Tina Avenue.

Flowers from a walk

I am looking forward to the flowers that will come out in the spring.

They come in twice a day for treats

Making Pasta

The last time I made pasta was in about 1973. It took me all afternoon but I did it. Last night I watched Mark make pasta with a pasta machine and it was much easier.

The inspiration for the exercise was this -

On special at my favourite Deli

I don't have to be able to read Italian to know what this is for.
Mark was happy to go along with the exercise. So with the fire going and a gin and tonic for me he started the dough.

1 egg to each 100gr of flour

Slowly working it in

Run it through 3 times

Each time making it thinner.

Looking better

Just right

Fettuccine

Great result

I forgot to photograph the slow roasted duck

Gremolata for duck and pasta

Fennel and orange salad

Dinner

With a fire

I am definitely going to do this myself and then tackle making potato gnocchi.

Today's musings

It is raining today. What in Europe is called a soft grey day. Not the usual sub-tropical downpour that comes with a blast and goes quickly. The ocean looks a lake in Switzerland on 'a soft grey day'.

This is the slowest quietest day that we have had since arriving in mid August last year. Almost feels too decadent. I finished my latest book, made Asian chicken soup and not much else.

We are always on the go with cooking, laundry, general cleaning, gardening, and renovations to the Tina Ave house and apartment. Not to mention the shopping for building materials and food, that all has to be carried to the ferry then off and home. No wonder we get tired by early evening.

On Easter Sunday Libby and Arabella came out for lunch. I cooked roast lamb with an assortment of vegetable dishes.

Italian Easter pie

I make this every year. I love it.

Cheese, egg and flakey pastry

What is not to love with this combination.Simone at Pretty Produce gave us some lovely egg plants just before the Easter break as they would be too large for her restaurant customers after the long weekend.

Straight from the garden

I roasted these on the bar b que and made my favourite honey and harissa eggplant dish

Honey,spices,garlic and ginger

Baker's potato

That is the English translation. Such a forgiving dish when feeding a crowd. Make it bake it take it out of the oven when you need space for something else then just pop it in again. It doesn't mind at all. Left overs taste just as good, when ever there is any.

The stuffed zucchini's are another good stand by dish. So easy to prepare ahead and they don't mind waiting around. The beans are another favourite. Blanch, roll in slightly cooked bacon make the sauce and pop under the grill at the last minute.

Arabella had a good day

She says coming over the water in a ferry to an island is 'leaving Australia'.

Vegetable Tagine

This is a good dish to use up the remains of a pumpkin and sweet potato

Blossoms on our apple tree

Rosella flowers

Pretty Produce invited us to pick rosella's last week. We picked the largest once from the bushes. They only use the leaves for the sour salad leaf mix. If the flowers are cut more young leaves will grow.
I made 10 pots of jam. I have never made this before but remembered the flavour from Slack's Creek.

This will be great with scones

Mark calls him Flea bus

I love the way this cat has taken to Mark. He waits for him to come home like a dog would. From our gate he can see down 2 streets so he has the best view.

This little cat has the loveliest expression.

Vegetable soup

When you don't have easy access to a supermarket etc you learn to be creative with what you have. Vegetable soup is always a good way to use up everything in the bottom of the crisper.

Retro garage sale buy

We went to a garage sale on the island. Jonelle bought a queen sized bed for the apartment for $50 - in excellent clean condition. I bought these for Mark for $5 each plus a brand new ice-cream maker for $15.
On the way home on the ferry on Saturday I saw that most boast I have ever seen fishing and pawning. This photo really doesn't do the scene justice. It was amazing.

Saturday's fishermen